S Lanka rebels ‘in fierce fight’

[ BBC ]

Sri Lanka says there have been heavy clashes between its forces and the Tamil Tigers in a battle to take the key rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi. The defence ministry says the latest fighting began before dawn, with the Tamil Tigers launching a counter-attack on troops. But the military says it drove them off with artillery and rocket launchers, and inflicted heavy casualties. The Tigers have not commented and there are no independent accounts. On Friday, Sri Lanka’s military said it had entered the north-eastern town of Alampil, used as a naval base by the Tigers.